Bending Toward the Sun

A Mother and Daughter Memoir

By: Leslie Gilbert-Lurie, Rita Lurie

Narrated by: Leslie Gilbert-Lurie, Beata Pozniak

Length: 12 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

A miraculous lesson in courage and recovery, Bending Toward the Sun tells the story of a unique family bond forged in the wake of brutal terror.

Weaving together the voices of three generations of women - Rita, her daughter, Leslie, and her granddaughter, Mikaela - the memoir provides powerful and inspiring evidence of the resilience of the human spirit, relevant to every culture in every corner of the world. Unimaginably devastating and incredibly uplifting, this firsthand account of survival and healing offers a poignant message of hope in our own uncertain times.

Rita Lurie was five years old when she fled her home in Poland to hide from the Nazis. From the summer of 1942 to 1944, she and 14 members of her family shared a nearly silent existence in a cramped, dark attic, subsisting on scraps of food. Young Rita watched helplessly as her young brother and then her mother died by her side. Motherless and stateless, Rita and her surviving family spent the next five years wandering throughout Europe, waiting for a country to accept them.

Decades later, Rita is the matriarch of a close-knit family in California. Yet in addition to love, Rita unknowingly passes to her children feelings of fear, apprehension, and guilt. Her daughter Leslie, an accomplished lawyer, media executive, and philanthropist began probing her mother's childhood to discover how Rita's pain has affected not only Leslie's life and outlook but also that of her children. Their collaboration produced this unforgettable story, which reveals how deeply the Holocaust remains in the hearts and minds of survivors and their descendants.

©2009 Leslie Gilbert-Lurie (P)2021 Leslie Gilbert-Lurie

Critic reviews

“The lasting impact of the Holocaust on a survivor and her daughter emerges in this joint account… The voices and experiences expressed are valuable.” (Publishers Weekly)

“[An] affecting memoir…. Vivid…. Riveting…. An amazing story of wartime survival.” (Kirkus Reviews)

“A captivating memoir that explores a complicated, loving, and enduring mother-daughter bond, and reveals how doubts, hopes, and dreams are handed down from generation to generation. As both a mother and a daughter, I found it deeply touching.” (Arianna Huffington, author, syndicated columnist, and founder of The Huffington Post)

Harrowing and heartwarming story

A tale that is harrowing and tragic, yet also inspirational and heartwarming. We hear about Rita’s life from an idyllic early childhood in a small Polish town, through the horrors of escape and hiding out during the Holocaust, and on to a better life in the U.S. Her experiences had long-lasting effects on not just herself but the next generations of her family. It's a story filled with both terrible inhumanity, and great love and kindness, beautifully told.

fabulous story - a must listen!

Bending toward the Sun is an amazing audiobook - compelling, fascinating and just a wonderful story. A must listen! Leslie and Rita tell the most amazing story, and it is a heartwarming voyage into the past and present. I loved it. I highly recommend it for everyone, of all generation!

A beautiful tale of mother and daughter

Being in quarantine you often miss the feeling of human connection and Bending Toward The Sun was like a warm hug from an old family friend. The story is still as relevant today as it was 10 years ago. Leslie and Rita told a beautiful story and one I hope people will continue to listen to for years to come!

Incredible listen!

I am so glad this book is now available in audio format via Audible! My own mother read the book a year ago, and it's been at the top of my list to read since she recommended it to me; I just haven't had time to read a full book. But now that it's on Audible, I was able to zip through listening- Putting it on 1.4x speed is the equivalent of not being able to put a book down! Everything about this audiobook is great. From Rita's story, which is absolutely incredible and one that everyone should be required to hear, to Leslie's...it's a great reminder that the past doesn't always stay in the past!

And something about the narrator's voice is so soothing to me. Audiobook narration can be hit or miss, but this one definitely hit the mark and then some.

So glad to check this one off my list and will listen to it again (because I can!)

Fantastic audiobook, highly recommend!!

I often love to listen to an audiobook after reading a book so that I can hear the voices of the characters come to life. Bending Toward the Sun's audiobook did not disappoint! It is a powerful story filled with powerful lessons. Highly recommend this audiobook to anyone who enjoys history and intriguing stories, and to those who recognize the importance of connecting the lessons of the Holocaust to today's world. I hope you enjoy the experience of listening to this audiobook as much as I have.

Very Highly Recommend!

“Bending Toward The Sun” is a fascinating and unique book that not only details the compelling story of Holocaust survivor Rita Lurie but also sheds light on how Rita’s experiences has affected her daughter, Leslie, and granddaughter, Mikaela. Beautifully written, it provides an insightful and intimate portrayal of their lives. A mixture of tragedy, humor, and heart, the book ultimately leaves the reader feeling enlightened and inspired. I especially enjoyed the audiobook since it was special to have author Leslie Gilbert-Lurie share her thoughts and insights in her own voice. I would very highly recommend this book!